gypsy

Cornbread salads are a true favorite here in the South. This variation has sort of evolved through the years in my kitchen because of our love of spicy foods, Southwestern and Tex-Mex flavors. The fresh pico de gallo, is a must and takes my salad over the top. It also stays true to the type of food that inspired my take on this classic. This salad needs to be made ahead to allow the flavors to fully develop. If you plan on serving this salad for dinner, it can be made during early morning for the best same day results. Otherwise, overnight is ideal for the full impact and flavor combination to shine.

Directions:Prepare the cornbread per the instructions on the package and cool. Divide into thirds. Prepare the dressing using 1 1/3 cup of milk/buttermilk and 1 cup of mayo, then chill until assembling the salad. This is slightly more milk than called for on the package, but, I prefer the dressing a little thinner for this salad

To prepare the pico de gallo, dice the tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno pepper. If you like your salsa super spicy, leave the seeds in the jalapeno, otherwise, use a teaspoon and remove them. Always wash your hands well after handling hot peppers. Add to a bowl, and toss with the chopped cilantro, lime juice and seasonings. If making ahead, place into the fridge and chill until you assemble. If you're using canned corn, drain the Mexican corn and black beans, and rinse the beans thoroughly. Mix together. If you're using frozen corn, cook according to the package directions and cool before tossing with the black beans.

To assemble the salad, I use a trifle bowl, simply because the colors are so pretty, it adds to the presentation. Gather all of your ingredients to help the layering process move along smoothly.

Divide the ingredients into thirds. Layer in this order...shredded lettuce, crumbled cornbread, bacon, Mexican corn and black beans, pico de gallo, dressing and shredded cheese. Repeat until all of the ingredients are used